2006-12-15 02:15:09 · 8 answers · asked by Chuck Dhue 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Philadelphia, PA has quite a few of these installed in the red light at major intersections and especially in the red light of intersections where the view of the light may be somewhat obscured. Believe it or not, this question was posed on a local talk radio station, and a guy from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation actually called in.
The flashing strobes are added in the red lights to draw your attention to the light. The addition of the flash catches your attention and forces you to actually look at the red light, preventing you from ignoring the signal and possibly running the light altogether.
They are not the same as the flash from an intersection with a camera installed to catch people who habitually run the lights at busy and dangerous intersection. Those flash once and it's after you've gone thru the intersection.
2006-12-15 02:25:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Mad Dog is correct.
For instance, on one road near me, there is not a traffic light for literally about 60 miles.. then the road (highway) runs into an intersection where cars can cross the road. This light blinks when red, because this is the first light you'll have seen in 60 miles, so you're more likely to not expect it. I'm sure the light in which you're refering to fits one of these descriptions. (First light after a long stretch of no lights, bad visibility of the light location, etc)
2006-12-15 12:24:40 · answer #2 · answered by Vexing A Nation 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow strobe lights while driving. Wouldn't that be cause for an accident from people who are affected by seizures?
I happen to have a mild condition that is only triggered by stobe lights, it makes me dizzy and nausious. I don't fall into heavy bodily fits of uncontrolled spasms, but can you imagine finding out for the first time while driving?
Sounds a bit of a medical safety risk.
2006-12-15 08:45:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they flash as a warning to drivers that the light is about to change
2006-12-15 02:22:43 · answer #4 · answered by geekieintx 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
umm so u can see them in the dark, rain, or snowy foggy weather from a distance!
2006-12-15 02:22:22 · answer #5 · answered by NY has spoken 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they illuminate your license plate/car for the photo ticket.
maddog: great answer! i didn't know about that.
2006-12-15 03:30:50 · answer #6 · answered by disco legend zeke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are the flash bulbs for cameras, don't run them
2006-12-15 02:23:24 · answer #7 · answered by eyesinthedrk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
to get your attention if you're zoning out.
2006-12-15 02:22:34 · answer #8 · answered by Bob Jones 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋